Reform-led councils in ‘paralysis’ as dozens of meetings cancelled in first weeks
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Reform-led councils in ‘shambles’ since local elections, opponents claim
- Reform UK gained control of nine councils and minority control in three more in May's local elections, but opposition councillors claim the party's organisation and productivity have been a "shambles" since.
- Across the 12 Reform-controlled councils, 33 meetings have been cancelled or postponed in the first nine weeks since the election, and at least 21 Reform councillors have missed their first meetings.
- In Kent, nine out of 22 scheduled meetings have been cancelled since the election, including legally required meetings like the governance and audit committee.
- Kent County Council said some meetings, such as planning committees, were scheduled on an ‘if required’ basis, and were cancelled because there were no applications requiring an immediate decision.
- Nottinghamshire Council’s new Reform leader Mick Barton dismissed the criticisms as "political rhetoric from the opposition."